Telephone switching apparatus.



No. 823,091. PATENTED JUNE 12, 1906. R. A. WALTON.

TELEPHONE SWITCHING AP'EARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25111905.

Wfizeuved. jnuezz'iv r UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

ROBERT A. WALTON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TELEPHONE SWITCHING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12, 1906.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. WALTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Telephone Switching Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to telephoneswitching apparatus; and the object thereof is to cut out the transmitter-circuit at certain intervals during a conversation.

It is frequently desired by those using the telephone to converse with others in the office relative to certain matters, and oftentimes it is not desired to have the person at the other end of the line overhear the conversation carried on in the office. Under these conditions the person speaking does not desire to return the receiver to the hook, for the reason that the line would then be cut ofi. In cases where it is found desirable to close the trans- Initter all that can be done is to hold the hand over the transmitter-mouthpiece, which is not only extremely inconvenient, but oftentimes fails to accomplish the object.

It is the purpose of this invention to overcome these defects, and to this end I have provided switching means located on the transmission-line, whereby the transmittercircuit may be rendered temporarily inoperative.

I accomplish these objects by the mechanism described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which the figure illustrated is a side elevation of a telephonetransmitter with parts broken away to more clearly disclose my invention.

In the drawing, 1 is a telephone-transmitter of usual construction. 2 is the shell or casin in which is mounted the diaphragm 3 and t e bridge 4. Secured to this bridge is an insulating-block 5, to which is secured the terminal 6 and to which the line 7 from the diaphragm. is attached. Inter osed in this line is a cut-out switch 8, Whic is mounted on an insulating-block 9, attached to the bridge 4. This cut-out switch consists in this instance of a contact-arm 10, pivotally secured to the insulating-block 9, as at 11, to which is attached the line 12. The inner end of this switch-arm is constructed of any good conducting material, and the movement is limited by stop-pins 13 and 14, secured to the insulating-block 9. Mounted upon this block also is the switch contact-plate 15, to which the line 16 is attached. The outer end of the switch-arm is preferably made of insulating material 17 and projects through a slot 18 in the transmitter-casing.

In operation when it is desired to temporarily cut out the transmitter-line during a conversation all the operator has to do is simply-throw the switch, by which means the transmitter-circuit is temporarily switched out.

I am aware that various changes may be made in this construction (such as locating the operating-switch at various points in a telephone-transmitter circuit) without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a device of the character herein described means to render the transmitter temporarily inoperative; said means comprising a manually-operated make-and-break switch interposed in the transmitter-circuit and secured inside the transmitter-casing, said switch comprising an insulating-base; a contact-plate mounted in said base; a switchingarm having an insulated handle pivotally secured to said base and projecting through said casing, and adapted to be moved in or out of engagement with said contact-plate whereby said circuit is controlled.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 19th day of July, 1905.

ROBERT A. WALTON. Witnesses:

EDMUND A. STRAUSE, MARGARETE O. NICKELESON. 

